Low cost metal electrodes

Abstract

Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide metal electrodes for electrochemical cells. In various embodiments, the electrodes may comprise iron. Various methods may enable achieving high surface area with low cost for production of metal electrodes, such as iron electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A battery comprising:
 a first electrode;   an electrolyte; and   a second electrode, at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode including a current collecting sheet and a bed of iron agglomerates, and the current collecting sheet applying a compressive load to the bed of iron agglomerates on at least one side of the first electrode or the second electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a sulfide. 
     
     
         3 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode further comprises a solid sulfide. 
     
     
         4 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the iron agglomerates comprise at least one of magnetite, hematite, or wustite. 
     
     
         5 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a corrosion inhibitor. 
     
     
         6 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the iron agglomerates have an average length ranging from 50 μm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the iron agglomerates have an average internal porosity ranging from 10% to 90% by volume. 
     
     
         8 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the iron agglomerates have an average specific surface area ranging from 0.1 m 2 /g to 25 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         9 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is infiltrated between the iron agglomerates. 
     
     
         10 . The battery of  claim 9 , wherein the electrolyte comprises 1-octanethiol. 
     
     
         11 . The battery of  claim 1 , wherein the iron agglomerates are supported within a metal textile mesh providing compressive force and current collection for the iron agglomerates. 
     
     
         12 . A bulk energy storage system, comprising:
 one or more batteries, at least one of the one or more batteries including
 a first electrode, 
 an electrolyte, and 
 a second electrode, at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode including a current collecting sheet and a bed of iron agglomerates, the current collecting sheet applying a compressive load to the bed of iron agglomerates on at least one side of the first electrode or the second electrode. 
   
     
     
         13 . The bulk energy storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the iron agglomerates comprise at least one of magnetite, hematite, or wustite. 
     
     
         14 . The bulk energy storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the electrolyte comprises a corrosion inhibitor. 
     
     
         15 . The bulk energy storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the iron agglomerates have an average length ranging from 50 μm to 50 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The bulk energy storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the iron agglomerates have an average internal porosity ranging from 10% to 90% by volume. 
     
     
         17 . The bulk energy storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the iron agglomerates have an average specific surface area ranging from 0.1 m 2 /g to 25 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         18 . The bulk energy storage system of  claim 12 , wherein the iron agglomerates are supported within a metal textile mesh providing compressive force and current collection for the iron agglomerates.